Rail cleaning and greasing apparatus



Nov. 1, 1932. G. B. ISABELLA 1,385,726

RAIL CLEANING AND GREASING APPARATUS Y Filed Aug. 18, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig, 1

Nov. 1, 1932. G. B. ISABELLA 1,335,726

RAIL CLEANING AND GREASING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 18, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Y/A /I/I/II/I/l/l Patented Nov. 1, 1932 entree sA're eIoAcnino BENVEN-UTO ISABELLA, or ream, 12mm;

' RAIL crinanme Ann ennasrne Arranarus This invention relates to an apparatus for cleaning grooved rails such as are commonly used in city tram-lines and for dispensing a suitable greaseto the curves of the lines.

23; This apparatus can be applied to any type of tramways and is operated by pedal or it works automatically when there is a trailer car. The arrangement is such that when the tramcar runs in a given direction the part to of the mechanism adapted to clean the rails enters into action, while when the tramcar runs in the opposite direction the part of the mechanism adapted to paint the inside of the rail groove with a suitable grease will come into action every time the tramcar reaches the commencement of a curve.

, The accompanying drawings show a constructional form of this apparatus.

Figure 1 is a front view of the whole ap- LZZG paratus.v

Figure 2 is a longitudinal elevation sectioned along the axis of the car.

Figure 3 shows the rail cleaning brush mounted on its spindle disassembled intoits it? component parts.

F igure 4 shows diagrammatically the displacement of the drag-bar connecting the tramcar with thetrailer car whenrunning over a curve.

Figures 5 and 6 show a partial front and side sectional view of the rail groove cleaning brush.

Figures 7 and 8 show a sectional front and side view, respectively, of the rail tread 3b; cleaning brush. 7 s r Figures 9 and 10 show diagrammatically. an arrangement wherein an apparatus is provided on each car axle thus allowing the simultaneous cleaning and greasing of the rails whatever the direction in which the car is running may be;

Figures 11 and 12 show the levers for clutching in and out the apparatus at will or automatically.

Figure 13 shows the pedal for the opera-- tion of the apparatus.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the mechanism consists of a receptacle 1 hanging from the car by means of suitable straps and filled 501 with grease and of two V-shaped frames,

Application filed August 18, 1931, Serial No. 557,852, and in Italy August 21, 1930.

2 and2. Each frame forms a unit with two sprocket wheels 3 and 3 which transmit motion through chains to two sprocket wheels 4 and at mounted at the ends of the frame and keyed to the shafts 5-5 which carry the brushes. Theframes 2 and 2 are loosely mounted on the shaft 9, the bearings 9 whereof are slidable on the guides 10 and 10 secured to the body of the car, allowing vertical movements of the shaft 9. The shaft'9 carries besides the sprocket wheels 3 and 3 two friction wheels 11 and 11 keyed hereto. The shaft 9 is normally stationary and held in a raised position by the levers 12 and 12" pressed by the springs 13 and 13. When the linkage 14 (Figs. 11 and 12) draws the levers 12 and 12 apart in the manner explained hereinafter, the shaft 9 is lowered and the friction wheels 11 and 11 come into contact with the corresponding pinions- 15 and 15" keyed to the'axle 16 of the car andset the shaft 9 into rotation. I

A vertical shaft 17 is mounted axially with respect to the receptacle 1 and carries a stirring arm 18 keyed thereto.

The shaft 17 is rotated bythe worm wheel 19 meshing with the worm 20 mounted on the central portion of the crank shaft 2-1 which is rotated through a suitable sprocket gear by the toothed wheel 22 keyed to; the shaft 9. A connecting, rod 23 engages the crank of the shaft 21 and actuates a double-acting piston pump 24 mounted within the receptacle 1 and adapted to deliver the lubricant to the. nozzle 26 through the hose 25. The nozzle 26 is fixed to one of the ends of the frames 2 and 2 and receives the end of the wick 27 lubricatingv the rail groove.

Two wire or bristle brushes 28 and 28 are mounted on the axles 5 and 5 and are rotated in a direction opposite to the direction of drive of the car. -These brushes which are placed ahead of the wick 27 clean the rail thus putting it into the best condition for receiving the lubricant The other two arms of the frames 2 and 2 carry at their ends circular brushes 29 which shall be described hereinafter.

The wheels 3, 3 and 22are free wheels'of the usual type and they ensure the transmission of motion in one direction only, so that for example when the brushes 29 are working, the brushes 28 and 28 and the shaft 21 remain stationary.

The brushes 29 for cleaning the rail (see- Figures 3, 5, 6, 7, 8) comprise each two brushes having a different diameter and thickness. The brush 30 which isthinner and of a larger diameter is adapted to clean the rail groove and the brush 31.which is thicker and of smaller diameter cleans the rail tread. 5 4 a The brush adapted to clean therail groove is clamped .on two. thirds .of its diameter ning. 7 y Each brush (Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8) includes a box 33 having a central square hole 34: provided on'its edges with cylindrical rollers 35 in order to aid in the axial displacement of the brushes.

Pins 36 are secured in the boxes 33, said pins being radially arranged in the box of a larger diameter and concentrically arranged in the box of smaller diameter. Small bundies of wires 37 are fitted on the pins 36 and merge through holes bored on the box. By this arrangement the bundles of wires of the larger brush are displaced outwardly from the centre as they are worn'out and 1 are finally applied to the smaller brushes so that they can be eiiiciently utilized on fourfifths of their length. The bolts 38 securethe two brushes together.

The cleaning brushes and the brushes ahead of the greasing apparatus are mounted on a spindle (Fig. 3) so'that they may undergo axial displacements in order to suit any unevenness of the gauge and to follow any curve. Two springs 39 and 39 return the brushes to theirnormal position as soon as the causes of their displacement have ceased.

As the frames 2 and 2are loosely mounted on the shaft 9 they tend to'follow the shaft 9 in rotation owing to the friction existing between the chain and sprocket wheels 3 and 4, so that the frames are automatically lowered until the brushes 28 or 29 according to the direction of drive come into contact with the rail. 7 I

When it is desired to operate the apparatus either as rail cleaner or as rail greasing apparatus, according to the direction of drive of the tramcar,the pedal 40 (Fig. 13) placed within easy reach of the operator is depressed and displaces the linkage 14 through thebell-crank lever 41 and the-cable 42 (Fig. 11) bringing said linkage into the position shown in Fig. 12. The links -41 andel connected with the levers 12 and 12 lift these latter lowering the shaft 9 and clutching in the friction gear 11 and 11.

I When the tramcar carrying the apparatus draws a trailer car or when the apparatus is mounted on a trailer car, the displacement undergone by the drag-bar when running over a curve can be utilized for automatically oper .ating the grease dispensing apparatus. The

number of turns of the shaft 9 and consequentlyto the speed of the car, so that when the pump is once adjusted in such manner as to ensure a satisfactory lubrication,'it will remain in its adjusted position at any speed of the tramcar.

By providing an apparatus on each axle of a car (Figs. 9 and 10) with the rail cleaning brushes 29 in the middle and the grease dis- 'pensing member 28 outwardly it is possible to work the rail cleaner and the greasedispensing apparatus simultaneously and with thecar running in anydirection so that the track is cleaned and greased in one journey. The grease dispensing appartus can be fed with grease from a common receptacle. What I'claim is: i J

1. A rail cleaning and'greasing apparatus for tram lines comprising, in combination with a. tramcar, two frames looselymcunted on a cross shaft, bearings for said shaft movably mounted on brackets secured to the car body, friction wheels keyedon said shaft,

cooperating friction wheelskeyed on a car axle, means for simultaneously displacing said hearings to bring the friction wheels of said shaft into engagement with the friction wheels on'the car axle in order to transmit rotating motion to said shaft, a greasing device at one end of each frame, a rail cleaning device at the other end of each frame and means to transmit rotating motion from said shaft to said cleaning and greasing devices.

2. A rail cleaning and greasing apparatus for tram linescomprising, in combination with a tram-car, two frames loosely mounted on a cross shaft, bearings for said shaft movably mounted on brackets secured to the car body, friction wheels keyed on said shaft, cooperating friction wheels keyed on a car axle, means .for simultaneously displacing said hearings to bring the friction wheels of said shaft into engagement with the friction wheels on the caraxle'in order to transmit; rotating motion to saidshaft, a rail cleaning. device at one end of eaeh'frame, a grease dispensing device at the other end of each frame, a grease receptacle fixed under the car body, a stirring arm in said receptacle, pumps in said; receptacle feeding the grease to each grease dispensing device and sprockets gears to transmit the motion from said shaft to the stirr ng arm, pumps, ing devices.

1, t '1, a. A rail cleaning and-greasing appa anus for tram lines comprising, in combination with a tramcar, two frames loosely mounted greasing and cleanon a cross shaft, bearings for said shaft movably mounted on brackets secured to the car body, friction wheels keyed on saidshaft, cooperating friction wheels keyed on .a car axle, means for simultaneously displacing said bearings so that the friction wheels will mesh and transmit rotating motion to said shaft, a greasing device at one end of each frame, a rail cleaning device at the other end of each frame and sprocket gears transmitting motion from said shaft to said device, the driving wheels of said sprocket gears being free wheels so arranged that the it motion is transmitted only to such devices which owing to the sprocket gear friction are brought into their operative position.

4. A rail cleaning and greasing device apparatus for train lines comprising, in combination with a tramcar, two frames loosely mounted on a cross shaft, bearings for said shaft movably mounted on brackets secured to the car body, friction wheels keyed on saiu shaft, cooperating friction wheels keyed on a car axle, means for simultaneously displacing said bearings to bring the friction wheels of said shaft into engagement with the friction wheels on the car aXle in order to transmit rotating motion to said shaft, a rail 5 cleaning device at one end of each frame, a

grease dispensing device at the other end of each frame, a grease receptacle fixed under the car body, a stirring arm in said recep tacle, pumps in. said receptacle feeding the grease to each grease dispensing device and sprocket gears to, transmit the motion from said shaft to the stirring arm, pumps, greasing and cleaning devices, the driving wheels of said sprocket gears being free wheels so arranged that the motion is transmitted only to the stirring arm, pumps and greasing apparatus when the latter owing to the sprocket gear friction and shaft direction of rotation is brought into its operative position and to the cleaning device only when this latter is in its operative position.

5. A rail cleaning and greasing apparatus for tram lines comprising, in combination with a tramcar, two frames loosely mounted on .a cross shaft, bearings for said shaft movably mounted on brackets secured to the car body, friction wheels keyed on said shaft,

cooperating friction wheels on a car axle, means for simultaneously dlsplacing said bearings so that the friction wheels will mesh andtransinit rotating motion to said shaft, a rail cleaning device rotatably mounted on one end of each frame and comprising a brush of larger diameter entering and cleaning the rail groove and a brush of smaller diameter but thicker cleaning the rail tread, a nozzle at the other endof each frame, awick of fibrous material hanging from said nozzle, a grease receptacle secured to the car, ahose placing said receptacle in communication with said nozzle, a rotating brush having two diameters ahead of said wick and sprocket gears transmitting motion from said shaft to. said brushes, the driving wheels of said gears being free wheels so arranged that the motion transmitted only to the brushes which are in their operative position. i 6. A railcleaning and greasing apparatu for tram lines comprising, in combination with a tramcar, two frames loosely mounted on a cross shaft, nearings for said shaft movably mounted on brackets secured to the car body, friction wheels keyed on said'shaft,

receptaclesecured to the car, a stirring arm in SlICl receptacle, pumps in said receptacle feeding the grease to each nozzle, a brush ahead of said wick and sprocket gears transmittiiig the motion from said shaft to said brushes pumps and stirring arm, the driving wheels of said sprocket gears beingvfree wheels so arranged that the motion is transmitted only'to the stirring arm, pumps and brush ahead of the wick whensaid brush and said greasing wi k owing to the sprocket gear friction and shaft direction of rotat on are brou ht into'their onerative Josition and to a c l, l the rail cleaning brush only when this latter is in its operative position. v

'7. A rail cleaning and greasing apparatus for train lines'comprising in combination with a tramcar, two inverted J-shap-ed frames loosely mounted on a cross shaft, bearings for said, shaft movably mounted on brackets secured to the car body, friction wheels keyed on said shaft, cooperating friction wheels keyed on a car axle, levers to which said bearings are connected, springs acting on said levers holding the friction levers disengaged,

a linkage operating said levers against the, spring action to cause said friction wheelsto' mesh for transmitting the rotating motion tosaid shaft, a greasing device at one end: of

each frame, a rail cleaning device at the other.

binationwitha tramc'ar, two inverted J- shaped frames loosely mounted on a cross shaft, bearings for said shaft movably moun ed on brackets secured to the car body, frio tion wheels keyed on said shaft, cooperating friction wheels keyed on a car axle, levers to which said bearings are collected, springs acting on said levers holding the friction ievcrs disengaged, a linkage operating said levers against the spring action to cause said friction wheels to mesh for transmitting the retating motion to said shaft, rail cleaning device at one end of each frame, a ase dispensing device at the other end of each frame, a grease receptacle :ied under the body,

stirring arm in said receptacle, pumps in said receptacle feeding the grease to each grease dispensing device and sprocket gears to transmit the motion from said shaft to the stirring arm, pumps, greasing and cleaning devices.

' 9. A rail cleaning and greasing apparatus for tram lines comprising in combination witha tram car, two inverted V'ShQPQd frames loosely mounted on a cross shaft,

' bearings for said shaft movably mounted on brackets secured to the car body, friction wheels keyed on said shaft, cooperating fric 'tion wheels keyed on a car aXle,,leve-rs to which said bearings are connected, springs acting on said levers holding the friction levers disengaged, a linkage operating said levers against the spring action to cause said friction wheels to mesh for transmitting the rotating motion to said shaft, a rail clean- ""ing device at-oneend of each frame, a

grease dispensing device at the other end of each frame, a grease receptacle fixed under the car body, a stirring arm in said receptacle, pumps in said receptacle feeding the grease to each grease dispensing device and sprocket gears to transmit the motion from said shaft to the stirring arm pumps greasing and cleaning devices, the driving wheels of said sprocket gears being free wheels so arranged that the motion is transmitted only to the stirring arm, pumps and greasing apparatus, when the latter owing to the sprocket gear friction and shaft direction of rotation is brought into its operative position and to the cleaning device only when this latter is in its operative position.

10.. A rail cleaning and greasing apparatus for tram lines comprising in combination with a tram car, two inverted \l-shaped frames loosely mounted on a cross shaft, bearingsfor said shaft movably mounted on brackets secured to the car body, friction wheels keyed 011 said shaft, cooperating friction wheels keyed on a car axle, levers to which said bearings are connected, springs friction wheels to mesh for transmittingthe rotating motion to said shaft, a rail cleaning device rotatably mounted on one end of each frame and comprising a brush of larger diameter enterlng and cleanmg the rail groove and a brush of smaller diameter but. thicker cleaning the rail tread, a nozzle at the other end of each frame, a wick of fibrous material hanging from said nozzle, a grease receptacle secured to the car, a stirring arm in said receptacle, pumps in said receptacle feeding the grease to each nozzle, a brush ahead of said wick and sprocket gears transmitting the motion from said shaft so said brushes,

pumps and stirring arms, the driving Wheels of said sprocket gears being free wheels so arranged that the motion is transmitted only to the stirring arm, pumps and brush ahead of the wick when said brush and said greasing wick owing to the sprocket gear frlction an shaft direction of rotation are brought into their operative position and to the rail cleaning brush only when this latter is in its operative position. 7 r

11. A rail cleaning and greasing apparatus for tram lines comprising in combination with a tram-car, twoinverted. V-shaped frames loosely mounted on a cross shaft, bearings for said shaft movably mounted on brackets secured to the car body, friction wheelskeyed on said shaft, cooperating friction wheels keyed on acar axle, levers to which said bearings are connected, springs acting on said levers holding the. friction levers disengaged, a linkage operating said levers against the spring action to cause said friction wheels to mesh for transmitting the rotating motion to said shaft, said linkage being connected to a drag-bar of the tram car, a greasing device at one end of each frame, a rail cleaning device at the other end of each frame and motion transmitting means from said shaft to said devices.

in testimony whereof, I afix my signature.

GlOACliINO BENVENUTO ISABELLA. 

